The Tajik Solution

I have always maintained that first comes order before you can have development. Recent thinking however is the very persuasive argument that development contributes to order.

Nevertheless, it is good to see an article getting back to the basics.

Summary: By lowering its sights and concentrating on order, the international community has helped to stabilize Tajikistan. The same cheap, simple approach could work in Afghanistan, too.

GEORGE GAVRILIS is Assistant Professor of International Relations in the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin and an International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.